César (footballer, born 1974)

2.1. Birth and Childhood

César Aparecido Rodrigues was born on October 24, 1974, in São Paulo, Brazil. His early football development began with EC Ferrolho Itaquarense, where he played in their youth system from 1983 to 1992. He then joined CA Juventus, a smaller club in São Paulo, continuing his youth career there from 1992 before making his professional debut.

2.2. Involvement in Crime and Imprisonment

In 1994, while with CA Juventus, César became involved in a criminal incident that led to his imprisonment. Following the club's promotion to the top division of the state league, a sum of money awarded for this success was stolen. César was found to have been involved in the theft, specifically by providing information about the money's delivery. He was subsequently convicted and sentenced to a prison term of five years and four months. He served his sentence until his release in 1998. This period of incarceration significantly interrupted his nascent football career, making his return to professional play a remarkable and widely noted aspect of his life. His past became a prominent part of his public narrative, with media outlets, particularly in Italy, often highlighting his journey from "prison to Lazio" upon his transfer to the Italian club.

3.1. Career in Brazil

César began his professional career at CA Juventus in 1994, where he had played since 1992. After his release from prison in 1998, he returned to football through the intervention of São Caetano, a club that had signed him a year prior to his arrest. He was initially loaned to União Barbarense, a satellite club, where he contributed to their Campeonato Paulista Série A2 title victory in 1998. Upon his return to São Caetano, César quickly became a pivotal player, eventually serving as the team captain. He played a crucial role in leading São Caetano from the minor leagues to the finals of the National Brazilian Championship in 2000. During his tenure at São Caetano from 1998 to 2001, he made 31 appearances, scoring 8 goals, and also won the Campeonato Paulista Série A2 title with the club in 2000.

3.2. Career in Italy

César's most significant period as a player was in Italy, where he moved in the summer of 2001 to join S.S. Lazio after being scouted for some time. He quickly became an important player for the Roman club, making 86 appearances and scoring 13 goals during his time there from 2001 to 2006. In January 2006, he was loaned to Inter Milan, one of Italy's top teams, where he made 8 appearances and scored 1 goal during his loan spell. After his contract with Lazio expired in the summer of 2006, César signed a long-term contract with Inter.

However, his time at Inter was marked by several loan spells and inconsistent playing time. Despite initially showing good form during the 2007-08 preseason and linking up well with Maxwell on the left flank, even scoring a goal, he was subsequently dropped from the squad. He featured for only 45 minutes against Torino, a performance that disappointed many Inter fans and led to his substitution at half-time. As injured midfielders returned and the team's system became fixed, César's opportunities diminished, and he was deemed surplus to requirements following the departure of coach Roberto Mancini in May 2008.

After his contract with Inter expired in the summer of 2008, César found himself without a club for the first half of the 2008-09 season. On November 18, 2008, he signed with Bologna, a move influenced by his former Inter assistant coach, Siniša Mihajlović, who was then the manager of Bologna. He made 6 appearances for Bologna before moving to Valle del Giovenco, a third-division Italian club, on October 9, 2009. He played 16 matches and scored 3 goals for Valle del Giovenco, but the club faced financial difficulties and went bankrupt in 2010, forcing his departure. He officially retired from playing in 2011.

3.3. Major Transfers and Loans

César's career involved several significant transfers and loan movements, particularly during his time in Italy.

• 2001:** Transferred from São Caetano to S.S. Lazio in Serie A.
• January 2006:** Loaned from Lazio to Inter Milan.
• Summer 2006:** Signed a permanent contract with Inter Milan after his Lazio contract expired.
• 2006-2007 Season:** Loaned to Corinthians in Brazil, where he made 13 appearances and scored 1 goal. He expressed a desire to return to Italy by December 2006.
• January 2007:** Loaned to Livorno to replace César Prates. He played 9 matches and scored 1 goal for Livorno. His first Serie A match for Livorno was against his parent club, Inter, on February 11, 2007.
• Summer 2007:** Returned to Inter Milan for the 2007-08 season.
• Summer 2008:** Left Inter Milan as a free agent after his contract expired, remaining clubless for several months.
• November 2008:** Signed with Bologna.
• October 2009:** Joined Valle del Giovenco in the Italian third division.

3.4. Position and Playing Style

César primarily played as a left midfielder, which was his preferred position, but he was also capable of playing as a left-back. Standing at 71 in ^{(181 cm)} tall and weighing 157 lb ^{(71 kg)}, he was known for his left-footed play. During his second stint at Inter, he demonstrated good link-up play on the left flank, particularly with Maxwell. His versatility allowed him to contribute both defensively and offensively along the left side of the pitch.

7.1. Positive Evaluation

César was highly regarded for his contributions on the field, particularly during his time with São Caetano and S.S. Lazio. At São Caetano, he was instrumental in leading the team from lower divisions to the finals of the National Brazilian Championship in 2000, becoming a key player and captain. His move to Lazio in 2001 saw him become an important figure for the Roman club over five seasons. His career highlights include winning two Serie A titles and two Coppa Italia titles with Inter Milan and Lazio, respectively, showcasing his ability to contribute to championship-winning teams. Despite later struggles for consistent playing time at Inter, he demonstrated flashes of his skill, such as his good form during the 2007-08 preseason.

7.2. Controversy and Criticism

The most significant controversy associated with César's life and career stems from his criminal conviction for theft in 1994, which resulted in a prison sentence of five years and four months. This past event became a defining aspect of his public persona, especially when he moved to Italy. Media reports frequently highlighted his journey from "prison to Lazio," framing his career as a story of overcoming adversity. While he successfully rebuilt his professional life after his release in 1998, the societal perception and criticism related to his criminal past remained a part of his narrative. This aspect of his life serves as a stark reminder of the challenges he faced and the public scrutiny that accompanied his return to the high-profile world of professional football.